And what was with the underlying thrill that practically reeked of getting away with something naughty?

This. Is my absolute favorite line. Wah. Every single bit of this little story is gorgeous. The first time I read it - when Tristan reaches his epiphany "it's just a fucking card game!" I laughed out loud!

You have a talent for getting these two right on. The way that Duke went from being puzzled at Tristan's (predictable) outburst to just being amused by it. The perfect timing between Duke pointing out that the map is upside down to Tristan's "shit." The fact that Duke brought the "upside down" needle back in to prick Tristan again later.

So many good things.

One thing. I'm wondering if Tristan would know the phrase "Soul-spork." Would he? You already know I adore that phrase, and *I* like to use it...but the question is if that's something that would slide into his thought processes.

Meh. What the hell. Nitpickiness! It's still a great story and it was MORE than worth the work I put into that beta for you. _ Thank you! *GLOMP!*

A deliciously light-hearted fic. I was sorely tempted to frown upon Tristan so easily letting Duke twist Joey's words, but, heck, what followed was way too good to complain about anything. (And, okay, I adored the way you wrote these two and there wasn't much space left in my head for anything else but wowing and squealing while I read this.) -

Shella chapter 1 . 3/8/2005

This whole fic is the sort that makes you snicker & grin to yourself for about half an hour after you've finished reading it. Then you decide you have to read it again cos it's so breezily cool. Yeah, we likes this.